With all the excitement over the release of NHL 10 this week, the Old Men of Hockeenight (well, one of them anyway) thought they would take a look at the fighting video games of yore.

Like most people born on this side of 1970, I grew up playing video games.  In fact, I also grew up and then older playing them, and even though I have something like 12 kids and a dog and a cat and a job and a lawn to mow(or driveway to shovel) I still enjoy sneaking the occasional 56 seconds to play video game these days.

So anyway, I feel more than qualified to say that today's video game systems suck.  Playstation 3?  Everybody knows that the third of any series of things is always the worst.  Ninetendo Wii?  Sounds unhygienic.  Xbox 360?  Who hasn't wanted the thrill of playing a video game whilst in the same room as a running jet engine?

Anyway, we're here to talk about fights, or something.  So what was the greatest fighting video game ever?  What game most accurately depicted the epic struggle of single combat?  Was it the terrible graphics and gameplay but awesome fatalities of Mortal Combat?  Was it the Street Fighter series, before Van Damme ruined the entire thing with that stupid movie?

Don't be an idiot.  Everybody knows there's only one game that can give you the visceral thrill that comes with beating another man unconscious.  One game that allows you, a 123 lb. white man to dominate a bunch of racial stereotypes in boxing matches before finally ending the reign of one of the most vicious heavyweight champions in boxing history.

Only one game that has inspired Asian guys to shoot numerous parody videos and then post them on Youtube.

Enjoy.